Is low carb dangerous? possibly.
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realityfades wrote: »TheBeachgod wrote: »Low carb isn't healthy for those around me! I've noticed I'm moody as hell and absent minded when I go low carb. I quit doing it after I figured that out.
I have no idea if there's any science to back that up but it made a difference for me.
Interesting. Wonder if it's the result of starving your brain of carbohydrates. I've heard of low carb people complaining of brain fog.
It's akin to folks complaining when drastically reducing caffeine. Is that "dangerous" as well?
oh, what of folks "drastically" increasing vegetables. They "suffer" from stomach woes. Is that dangerous?0 -
NHS may not like giving up carbs - but they do admit that not requred for glucose
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/Pages/the-truth-about-carbs.aspx
While we can most certainly survive without sugar, it would be quite difficult to eliminate carbs entirely from your diet. Carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy. In the absence of carbohydrate, your body will use protein and fat for energy.
It's not impossible to live on low carbs, but it requires a lot informed attention. Some people need to be on low-carbs- most people should just choose simpler routes.
Its like gluten free - its an unhealthy fad for most followers - for people with real gluten intolerance - it's a requirement.
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mlboyer100 wrote: »realityfades wrote: »I don't eat low carb, but I was wondering if low carb diets long term are unhealthy. I came across an NIH article that detailed how many carbs, proteins and fats each and every organ of your body requires. It said that the brain alone requires 120-130 grams of carbs a day to remain healthy. To me, that implies eating a low carb diet may be starving the organs when done long enough.
Thoughts?
This is the article for anyone interested: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22436/
[I am not debating the efficiency of low carb vs CICO for weight loss, I am talking about it's long term effects on organs]
I've been low carb for 30 years... No I side effects. I have hypoglycemia, opposite of diabetics, but our diets are about the same. The body converts protein into the necessary energy the organs and muscles need to perform. I eat high protein, have lots of energy, do cardio and strength tracings 3-5 days a week, active and healthy! Just passed my annual physical with flying colors. There may be certain health issues where low carb would not be healthy, but for most folks, it's the best way to go if you want to lose weight. I'm at my perfect weight for a 68 year old and have never felt better!
Thanks for sharing your story.0 -
Just remember that "Oh this one person out of the billions who live on this planet tried this one diet, succeeded, and lived to tell the tale," does not mean it's 100% accurate and should be followed to the T or taken as law.
Generally, people who live on high fat and high protein diets will have a slew of health problems over time because their organs associated with processing these will wear out, the same way the organs that process sugar will wear out when you eat too much of it. (Type 2 diabetes)0 -
Studies on diets are never very credible since they are all observation or cohort studies. Just think about it; how the hell can anyone perform a randomized clinical trial of a diet? Also, what would be the comparison arm or standard? Exclusion criteria, primary end Points? Take these diet studies with a grain of salt (pun intended); there is no single best-fit diet for everyone. The most promising looking diet for the general population appears to be the Mediterranean diet.0
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I personally couldn't do low carb diet. But every body is different. Some people feel better on low carb, some prefer high carb. I think everyone have to find what works best for them.0
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Low carb diet is *kitten*! I've tried it. I was in atkins induction, consuming less than 20g of carbs a day and after about 4 days of this, i woke up and was making myself breakfast when i suddenly felt soo dizzy and actually fainted (for the first and only time in my life!)
I don't know if it was due to low blood sugar or something else... but i was eating a lot of protein and drinking a lot of watet and consuming a good amount of sodium too....
I will never put myself through something like that again by cutting out a whole food group... CICO is the way to go!0 -
Just remember that "Oh this one person out of the billions who live on this planet tried this one diet, succeeded, and lived to tell the tale," does not mean it's 100% accurate and should be followed to the T or taken as law.
Generally, people who live on high fat and high protein diets will have a slew of health problems over time because their organs associated with processing these will wear out, the same way the organs that process sugar will wear out when you eat too much of it. (Type 2 diabetes)
There are just so many misconceptions about a low carb diet. You said one yourself, that low carb and high protein go together. Usually it is low carb and high fat with moderate protein, and moderate protein is not taxing on any organs. I eat very low high fat and my protein is usually between 60 and 80 g per day.
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grinning_chick wrote: »realityfades wrote: »Thanks for the bit of info. I guess that's why Atkins has such a short induction phase. The amount of carbs allowed on that would certainly be detrimental if done for very long periods of time.
Then you would guess wrong, yourself, in this instance.
There's a catchy little ditty somewhere out there that goes along the lines of "know thy enemy". Perhaps you should actually read Atkins version 2002-3 if you want to understand why the good Doctor made the Induction phase only two weeks long instead of guessing and speculating. The truth is sure to amaze and astound.
But that's a question. Don't all questions start with "would certainly be"?! Crap, I did that question wrong.0 -
mlboyer100 wrote: »realityfades wrote: »I don't eat low carb, but I was wondering if low carb diets long term are unhealthy. I came across an NIH article that detailed how many carbs, proteins and fats each and every organ of your body requires. It said that the brain alone requires 120-130 grams of carbs a day to remain healthy. To me, that implies eating a low carb diet may be starving the organs when done long enough.
Thoughts?
This is the article for anyone interested: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22436/
[I am not debating the efficiency of low carb vs CICO for weight loss, I am talking about it's long term effects on organs]
I've been low carb for 30 years... No I side effects. I have hypoglycemia, opposite of diabetics, but our diets are about the same. The body converts protein into the necessary energy the organs and muscles need to perform. I eat high protein, have lots of energy, do cardio and strength tracings 3-5 days a week, active and healthy! Just passed my annual physical with flying colors. There may be certain health issues where low carb would not be healthy, but for most folks, it's the best way to go if you want to lose weight. I'm at my perfect weight for a 68 year old and have never felt better!
Question for you; you say you have hypoglycemia. Does that mean that you were hypo before and are controlling your condition with low carb or you went low carb and now have much lower blood glucose levels? Personally I went lower carb (still around 100g per day) and got much more frequent low blood sugars and so stopped.
And yes, I realize that several keto people are convinced that if I went full keto it would have solved my problems, but I'm doing just fine eating my carbs and no longer have sever hypo symptoms.0 -
mlboyer100 wrote: »realityfades wrote: »I don't eat low carb, but I was wondering if low carb diets long term are unhealthy. I came across an NIH article that detailed how many carbs, proteins and fats each and every organ of your body requires. It said that the brain alone requires 120-130 grams of carbs a day to remain healthy. To me, that implies eating a low carb diet may be starving the organs when done long enough.
Thoughts?
This is the article for anyone interested: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22436/
[I am not debating the efficiency of low carb vs CICO for weight loss, I am talking about it's long term effects on organs]
I've been low carb for 30 years... No I side effects. I have hypoglycemia, opposite of diabetics, but our diets are about the same. The body converts protein into the necessary energy the organs and muscles need to perform. I eat high protein, have lots of energy, do cardio and strength tracings 3-5 days a week, active and healthy! Just passed my annual physical with flying colors. There may be certain health issues where low carb would not be healthy, but for most folks, it's the best way to go if you want to lose weight. I'm at my perfect weight for a 68 year old and have never felt better!
Question for you; you say you have hypoglycemia. Does that mean that you were hypo before and are controlling your condition with low carb or you went low carb and now have much lower blood glucose levels? Personally I went lower carb (still around 100g per day) and got much more frequent low blood sugars and so stopped.
And yes, I realize that several keto people are convinced that if I went full keto it would have solved my problems, but I'm doing just fine eating my carbs and no longer have sever hypo symptoms.
Very good points. I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia and went on a low carb nutrition plan (old Atkins) to control it. It was amazing how quickly my body adjusted and I loved the way I felt. I have continue it over the year, not absolutely religiously, I do have my cheat spells, but always end up feeling bad later. Actually, it's not the total carbs I eat that I count so much as the percentage of carbs to protein and fat. I'm at my best when they are 30-35% carbs, 20% fat, 45-50% protein and 1500 calories. 5'7" @ 130 lbs. I'm posting on FB pics of my daily foods with nutrition values. If you AR einterested, friend me, Marsha Weaver Boyer. I want to show people that 'dieting' doesn't mean you have to give up eating good foods! I had S'mores protein cheese cake and protein ice cream last nite for my nite-time snack!0 -
The ketogenic diet as a medically necessary diet for certain things like people with seizure or cancer I believe long term does not damage organs bc of conversion of something ( I forget what it was) but it is a protocol and I'd assume it were medically safe for people to be put on to help medical issues. I think you need a magnesium/ potassium supplement and to drink more water than a normal person bc of cells or something from articles I read.0
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realityfades wrote: »I don't eat low carb, but I was wondering if low carb diets long term are unhealthy. I came across an NIH article that detailed how many carbs, proteins and fats each and every organ of your body requires. It said that the brain alone requires 120-130 grams of carbs a day to remain healthy. To me, that implies eating a low carb diet may be starving the organs when done long enough.
Thoughts?
This is the article for anyone interested: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22436/
[I am not debating the efficiency of low carb vs CICO for weight loss, I am talking about it's long term effects on organs]
My thoughts? Don't read 13 year old academic texts. The info represents 20 year old information. You are missing a full generation of research.
Science doesn't expire.0 -
FunkyTobias wrote: »realityfades wrote: »I don't eat low carb, but I was wondering if low carb diets long term are unhealthy. I came across an NIH article that detailed how many carbs, proteins and fats each and every organ of your body requires. It said that the brain alone requires 120-130 grams of carbs a day to remain healthy. To me, that implies eating a low carb diet may be starving the organs when done long enough.
Thoughts?
This is the article for anyone interested: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22436/
[I am not debating the efficiency of low carb vs CICO for weight loss, I am talking about it's long term effects on organs]
My thoughts? Don't read 13 year old academic texts. The info represents 20 year old information. You are missing a full generation of research.
Science doesn't expire.
Good science does not expire. Bad science does not expire, but it sure does get discredited and ignored eventually.
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That's an interesting point, and if that's really true I think it deserves more attention. General guidelines for nutrition generally say to limit simple carbs and refined sugar, and go for a diet that has generous amounts of whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and lean protein sources. But it sounds like there are enough anecdotal accounts that eating lots of whole grains and fruit together, even with some protein and fat, may be a dangerous combo for those with prediabetes or diabetes.
The spike may be a bit higher with a simple carb, but the elevation above normal levels often lasts several times as long - making it more dangerous to organs impacted by elevated blood sugar (see the December 2015 study linking prediabetes to chronic kidney disease).Your body runs on glucose! You need it to create energy, literally! (cellular respiration, the mitochondrial electron transport chain..). Sure your body could survive, but you'd be lethargic and moody. Simple sugar is the quickest way to up your energy (which is why athletes eat chocolate or energy drinks before a race!). If you want that energy to be slow-releasing then eat complex carbs that are harder to break down (sweet potato for example), take longer to digest and won't spike your blood sugar.
p.s. i'm a medical student xD don't know if you can tell...
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ForecasterJason wrote: »
That's an interesting point, and if that's really true I think it deserves more attention. General guidelines for nutrition generally say to limit simple carbs and refined sugar, and go for a diet that has generous amounts of whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and lean protein sources. But it sounds like there are enough anecdotal accounts that eating lots of whole grains and fruit together, even with some protein and fat, may be a dangerous combo for those with prediabetes or diabetes.
The spike may be a bit higher with a simple carb, but the elevation above normal levels often lasts several times as long - making it more dangerous to organs impacted by elevated blood sugar (see the December 2015 study linking prediabetes to chronic kidney disease).Your body runs on glucose! You need it to create energy, literally! (cellular respiration, the mitochondrial electron transport chain..). Sure your body could survive, but you'd be lethargic and moody. Simple sugar is the quickest way to up your energy (which is why athletes eat chocolate or energy drinks before a race!). If you want that energy to be slow-releasing then eat complex carbs that are harder to break down (sweet potato for example), take longer to digest and won't spike your blood sugar.
p.s. i'm a medical student xD don't know if you can tell...
You need to test to see how it affects you (and keep in mind that avoiding carbs can itself lead to artificial IR). I mentioned that a friend of mine found worse results when he ate carbs with sat fat together, which I'd assumed was uncommon, and was directed to evidence/studies that showed that it's apparently common.0 -
FunkyTobias wrote: »realityfades wrote: »I don't eat low carb, but I was wondering if low carb diets long term are unhealthy. I came across an NIH article that detailed how many carbs, proteins and fats each and every organ of your body requires. It said that the brain alone requires 120-130 grams of carbs a day to remain healthy. To me, that implies eating a low carb diet may be starving the organs when done long enough.
Thoughts?
This is the article for anyone interested: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22436/
[I am not debating the efficiency of low carb vs CICO for weight loss, I am talking about it's long term effects on organs]
My thoughts? Don't read 13 year old academic texts. The info represents 20 year old information. You are missing a full generation of research.
Science doesn't expire.
Good science does not expire. Bad science does not expire, but it sure does get discredited and ignored eventually.
I wish that were true, so much of the bad science promogated in the popular media and on the Net that we have today is because of one horrible study years ago, vaccines would be one of those.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »ForecasterJason wrote: »
That's an interesting point, and if that's really true I think it deserves more attention. General guidelines for nutrition generally say to limit simple carbs and refined sugar, and go for a diet that has generous amounts of whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and lean protein sources. But it sounds like there are enough anecdotal accounts that eating lots of whole grains and fruit together, even with some protein and fat, may be a dangerous combo for those with prediabetes or diabetes.
The spike may be a bit higher with a simple carb, but the elevation above normal levels often lasts several times as long - making it more dangerous to organs impacted by elevated blood sugar (see the December 2015 study linking prediabetes to chronic kidney disease).Your body runs on glucose! You need it to create energy, literally! (cellular respiration, the mitochondrial electron transport chain..). Sure your body could survive, but you'd be lethargic and moody. Simple sugar is the quickest way to up your energy (which is why athletes eat chocolate or energy drinks before a race!). If you want that energy to be slow-releasing then eat complex carbs that are harder to break down (sweet potato for example), take longer to digest and won't spike your blood sugar.
p.s. i'm a medical student xD don't know if you can tell...
You need to test to see how it affects you (and keep in mind that avoiding carbs can itself lead to artificial IR). I mentioned that a friend of mine found worse results when he ate carbs with sat fat together, which I'd assumed was uncommon, and was directed to evidence/studies that showed that it's apparently common.
I think meat and potatoes counts as carbs and sat fat so I would predict that it's very common.0
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